Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Field Marks: This species is readily recognized by the spike-like racemes of white or pinkish flowers with bulblets present in the axils of the lowest bracts. Almost all the leaves are basal.

Habitat: Moist habitats, sometimes in alkaline soil.

Habit: Perennial herb with an erect rhizome.

Stems: Upright, unbranched, up to 1 foot tall, smooth.

Leaves: Almost all basal, linear to oblong-lanceolate, up to 3 1/2 inches long, up to
3/4 inch wide, rounded or pointed at the tip, more or less heart-shaped at the base, smooth,
on stalks as long as the blades; leaves on the stem few, alternate, linear-lanceolate, the
uppermost sessile.

Flowers: Several in a single spike-like raceme up to 2 1/2 inches long, the lower bracts bearing reddish bulblets in their axils.